An employment tribunal in Northern Ireland dismissed a disability discrimination claim against the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. The self-representing claimant failed to meet time limits for filing the case. Employment Judge Sheils ruled it was not just and equitable to extend the deadline.

At a preliminary hearing, another judge instructed the claimant that witness statements must include only relevant evidence, without submissions or arguments. The submitted statement contained limited facts, filled mostly with opinions and legal points. This created a mix of evidence and argument, against the instructions.

During cross-examination, the claimant presented new evidence absent from his statement. He acknowledged using generative AI to help prepare the document, claiming it served only for legal analysis. The AI misinterpreted a key case, Dornan v Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland from 2022.

The preliminary judge had referenced the Dornan case to highlight potential obstacles for the claimant. The claimant reported difficulty locating the judgment independently. Employment Judge Sheils noted that witness statements form sworn testimony under tribunal rules.

Judge Sheils described the AI involvement as a disturbing development. The Dornan ruling, from the Court of Appeal, addressed time limits in disability claims, requiring claimants to show good reason for late filings. Employment tribunals in Northern Ireland handle such disputes under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, with strict procedural rules.